the wellington college year book 2010/2011
36
the hardinge
The Hardinge leavers of 2011
consisted of the last group of ten
boys to join The Hopetoun in the
Third Form and twelve who began
their Wellington careers in Michaelmas 2009.
The Lower Sixth was made up of the first
group of Anglesey boys to move as that House
evolves into a girls’ house, joined by eight new
pupils. In addition to these, three members
of The Hardinge began their Third Form years
in different Houses. Representatives of nine
different nationalities and fourteen countries
of residency added to the cosmopolitan
atmosphere of the boys’ Sixth Form house,
and with half the leavers studying the ib
Diploma, The Hardinge continued at the
centre of Wellington’s recent changes and the
forefront of new developments.
Traditional values were equally represented,
however. Four members of the Hardinge were
awarded 1st xv colours (Kyle Ross, Peter
Davidge, Elliott Markham and Ollie Williams),
three played in the winning Rosslyn Park
side, and the House narrowly lost the sko
final to The Beresford on the last weekend.
For the second consecutive year the Head
of House (Jack Harcourt) was also rsm of
the corps, which contained twelve other
Hardinge ncos. With hearty performances
in the House singing and art contests, the
Hardinge’s contributions to the cultural life
of Wellington were led by Christian Schmitz
and Tom Wessely, respective winners of the
David Moreland-Green and Batchelor Art
Prizes, while musicians James Mulvaney and
Gary Zhang were awarded Arts Colours, the
latter also receiving the Silver Bugle on Speech
Day. While the Hardinge boys’ a level and ib
results again placed them in a more favourable
light than the regularly published league tables
of effort grades, the outstanding exponent
of the Logical Aptitude was Ryan Wield,
French resident Australian, who won the
major College prizes for Maths and Physics,
the Duke of Wellington’s Prize for academic
scholarship, and an offer to study Engineering
at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
The nature of a House depends entirely
on its members, and the population of The
Hardinge sees an even quicker regeneration
than any other boys’ House thereby ensuring an
effervescent freshness always alive to change.
The Hill demands
not that each member
is the best at everything
or indeed anything
but that they will show
non-depleting courage,
enthusiasm and passion
for all the challenges
that they face
the hill
If I told you that I didn’t
feel intimidated when I
first walked into the Hill
I would be lying. But I
would also have to tell you that the Hill is in
fact one of the most welcoming, warm and
friendly Houses in College.
‘Death or Glory’, the motto by which
every Hill boy lives throughout his time
as a Wellingtonian, clearly demonstrates
the notorious house spirit that resonates
from our historic foundations. The Hill
demands not that each member is the best
at everything or indeed anything but that they
will show non-depleting courage, enthusiasm
and passion for all the challenges they face.
Be it house sporting competitions, the interhouse quiz or even the infamous house dance
competition, what makes The Hill great is that
each member is willing to give their all and full
heartedly tackle even of the most gargantuan
of duties thrust upon them. As one of the
‘in-College’ houses The Hill is not only in a
prime location, but is a crucial component of
the beating heart of the College.
? As far as the house’s recognition goes,
our cultural and physical diversity sees us as
one of the best all round singing boys houses,
sko rugby semi-finalists, winners of jko, jko
cricket, bims rugby, top three finishes in the
past three athletics days and twice crowned